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Oppn alliance demands all-party mechanism

The opposition on Thursday said that an all-party mechanism should be formed to carry out tasks related to relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake.

The 30-party opposition alliance argues that such a mechanism from the centre to the grassroots would make reconstruction and rehabilitation effective in the absence of elected local bodies.

Though the ruling parties are positive on the demand, a final decision on the number of parties to be incorporated in the mechanism is yet to be decided. Currently, there are 31 parties in Parliament.

The opposition plans to settle the issue before the Parliament session on Friday afternoon.

Fearing monopoly of the ruling parties, the opposition front wants its stake in the rebuilding plan that the government is working to introduce. Opposition leaders believe that in the absence of elected representatives in the local bodies, government officials alone cannot perform such vital tasks.

The meeting of the alliance also demanded a high-level reconstruction and rehabilitation authority. Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai told reporters that it would be difficult to undertake tasks related to reconstruction without a high-level authority. “Temporary shelters, food and management for education should be the immediate priority of the government,” said Bhattarai after the Parliament meeting on Thursday.

Concluding that the government’s relief effort was inadequate, the opposition stressed the need for speeding up the distribution of essentials.

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